The reason behind writing this article is that I got a new machine and I was configuring it for Android development. Everything went well but when came to the step for generating the Google Maps API Key, I got stuck when couldn’t find “debug.keystore” file at the desired location inside “.android” folder.

.android folder without debug.keystore file

If we don’t have debug.keystore file we can’t get Google Maps API Key. To solve this issue and to get the debug.keystore file in the desired location is

Open Eclipse

Start a new Android project

Run the project in any AVD that’s already created.

When the project is successfully RUN on the Android Virtual Device. Now go to your “.android” folder and check. You will see that the “debug.keystore” is present there.

.android folder with debug.keystore

REASON

By default the “debug.keystore” file is not created in “.android” folder. When we successfully build our first project, the “debug.keystore” file is automatically created in “.android” folder.